Reggie Thomson’s Diary

You’ve got to be taught to hate and fear

This is one of the songs in “South Pacific”.

It was somewhat out of place. There was no hint of any hatred in the play.

I disagree strongly with the sentiment. Hatred is not a lesson we learn, and few would admit to teaching it. Fear is a natural reaction, especially in an unfamiliar circumstance.
We teach ourselves how to hate, merely by copying what we see, hear and feel around us. As dependent babies and children, we need food and comfort, so we desperately try to fit in by copying. Very quickly, any copied hatreds become part of our cultural identity - complete with detailed rationalisations for them (all copied, rarely thought-through).

No group within a society has ever “Got to be” taught the norms of the group - culture is assimilated. Rather, we need to be taught to examine ourselves and to be willing to lose face with our past behaviours and words.

I enjoyed the play “South Pacific” at the ADC. I had wanted to buy the DVD in advance, but at 15 quid, it is too pricey.

The story line is too thin for my liking. The guys in the row in front seemed to cringe at the weak lines.

The acting wasn’t bad, but at times seemed to lack a sense of Drama - pauses that highlight the feeling, for example.

Now here is an amusing anecdote. I don’t go with the crowd, so when I booked last Saturday, I chose a seat not in the centre, or near to others, but fourth in from the right, leaving two empty seats to the left. At the time of booking online, the theatre was mostly empty. Some individuals had taken end seats.

On the evening, the place was packed - except for two seats next to me. I wonder what that says about human psychology? Of course, maybe it says more about me. Next time, I’ll leave three and see if they get filled in.